Felix Hernandez slated to start Sunday - for now

"That could change," McClendon told MLB.com. "But as we speak now, I fully expect him to pitch."

What could change is the playoff status of the Mariners, who have put themselves on the brink of elimination, partly because Hernandez took a rare pounding Tuesday night in Toronto. He could use one more start, however, to increase his chances of winning the American League Cy Young Award.

Felix Hernandez rocked for eight runs in loss Tuesday

by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(9/23/14) Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez took a loss Tuesday, giving up eight earned runs on seven hits and three walks in just 4 2/3 innings while striking out five in his team's 10-2 defeat against the Blue Jays.

Hernandez (14-6) had a rare off-night Tuesday, giving up a run in the first inning before the Blue Jays exploded offensively in the fifth. He owns a 2.34 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 241:46 K:BB ratio in 230 2/3 innings with one more scheduled start remaining Sunday. The dud drops him to second in the AL ERA race behind Chris Sale.

Felix Hernandez fans 11 in a no-decision vs. Angels

by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(9/19/14) Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez put together another gem but didn't receive any run support in a no-decision Thursday night against the Angels. The right-hander permitted three hits and two walks while striking out 11 over seven innings of work.

Over his last four starts covering 28 innings, Hernandez has allowed only three earned runs. He owns a 2.07 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP over 32 starts (226 innings). His next start will come Tuesday at Toronto.

Felix Hernandez fans eight in no-decision

by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(9/14/14) Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez twirled a gem Saturday night at home in a no-decision to the A's. He allowed two runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out eight over seven innings of work. Of his 95 pitches, 58 were strikes.

Over his last three starts covering 21 innings, Hernandez has allowed three earned runs. He owns a 2.14 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP over 31 starts (219 innings). His next start will come Thursday in Anaheim against the Angels.

03/03/2015 10:37Starting pitcher tiers for Draft Day 2015
With so much talent at the top of the pitching ranks, our Scott White had to re-think his overall strategy. Get a closer look with starting pitcher tiers for Draft Day.

2014 summary: Though already a Cy Young winner and five-time All-Star, Felix Hernandez turned in arguably the best season of his career in 2014, ranking second only to Clayton Kershaw (but then, who beats Clayton Kershaw?) in ERA and WHIP while ranking fourth in strikeouts. Those were all career bests, as were his hit and walk rates. Altogether, he ranked second among starting pitchers in Head-to-Head points leagues and third in Rotisserie.

Playing time status: Is this some kind of joke? With Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia dropping out in recent years, Hernandez is now the unchallenged pitch-until-your-arm-falls-off guy in the majors, averaging more than 232 innings over his last six seasons for the Mariners. There was concern at one point that his arm may actually be falling off (or at least falling apart) with his average fastball velocity declining every year, but he reversed the trend last year and has only seen his strikeout rate rise regardless.

2015 outlook: The more innings Hernandez piles onto that golden arm of his, the better he seems to get. That obviously won't last forever, but age 29 probably isn't when it ends. He's as safe as it gets at starting pitcher, and with true aces in higher demand as the need for Fantasy owners to distinguish themselves at the position becomes greater with the increase in overall depth, he may join Kershaw in the first round of some drafts.
(Updated 12/23/14)